The first batch of 80 Nigerians to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia arrived at the Nnamid Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on wednesday.
The deportees reportedly arrived in the country on board an Ethiopian Airline plane at about noon.
Mr. Daniel Obot, the Assistant Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told newsmen at the Airport that the deportees were part of the 508 Nigerians residing illegally in Saudi Arabia.
He stated the Federal Government approved their repatriation after they voluntarily agreed to return home, adding that they would be handed over to officials of their State Emergency Management Agency after due clearance.
Also speaking to newsmen, the Director Consular and Immigration Services in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Abdulazeez Dan-Kano, stated the 80 deportees were from eight states of the country.
Dan-Kano stated that 31 of the deportees are from Kano State, 19 from Borno, 3 from Bauchi State and 8 from Jigawa.
Similarly, he stated that 7 of the deportees are from Yobe, 2 from Plateau, 9 from Katsina State and 1 from Nasarawa State.
Dan-Kano stated that those deported were mainly women, children and the sick.
He stated that more deportees were expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
Dan-Kano stated that the deportees indicated their interest to return to Nigeria following a November deadline issued by the Saudi Authorities for all illegal immigrants to leave the country.
He stated that 951 other Nigerians arrested by the Saudi authorities were being held in a camp in the country, and that they would return home at the instance of the Saudi government.